[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   There are choirs for gay men, choirs for women, choirs for socialists, choirs for hire, choirs for weddings and choirs for the deaf. There are Welsh ch...

St Helens Male Voices a brand new choir with a fresh approach, formed to bring men of all ages and backgrounds together to sing. We have a simple philosophy, we all love to sing but we want to do it in a professional way without the rigid formality and st...  moreSt Helens Male Voices a brand new choir with a fresh approach, formed to bring men of all ages and backgrounds together to sing. We have a simple philosophy, we all love to sing but we want to do it in a professional way without the rigid formality and structure of traditional male voice choirs. We love to sing and perform a wide range of musical styles from pop and rock to classical standards. If it is good music we will sing it. We are looking for new singers to join our friendly new choir, both experienced and beginners. Come along, experience something new and get excited!  less

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   This weekend I’m running a ‘voice clinic’ for members of my choir. I’ll be spending time working on basic vocal technique and conf...

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   One of the many bees in my bonnet is the photographs of choirs.     Photo by sludgeulper   I have yet to see a photo of any reasonabl...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   It turns out that the devil might not have the best tunes after all.     AlThough I run a secular choir (I don’t have a religiou...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   You work on a song in choir week after week, but slowly things seem to get worse. You worry about getting the words right, you can’t seem to re...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]I’ve been praised many times by the singers I work with for being so patient. Which makes me wonder: what’s the alternative?I must admit that I ...

III. WATER FROM YOUR SPRING What was in that candle's light that opened and consumed me so quickly? Come back, my friend! The form of our love is not a created form. Nothing can help me but that beauty. There was a dawn I remember when...  moreIII. WATER FROM YOUR SPRING What was in that candle's light that opened and consumed me so quickly? Come back, my friend! The form of our love is not a created form. Nothing can help me but that beauty. There was a dawn I remember when my soul heard something from your soul. I drank water from your spring and felt the current take me. Texts by Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks © 1995 Coleman Barks. Used by permission. Performed by the Millennium Consort, Martin Neary, conductor, and the Pomona College Choir, Donna Di Grazia, director. Water Ruminations is a setting of six poems by the thirteenth-century poet Rumi, in English translations from the Persian by Coleman Barks, for double choir and organ. The poetry sings of literal and spiritual connections between water and sky, a drop of water and human life, flowing water and love, drinking water and its container, the giddiness of spring and rolling seas, and the ocean's gifts and singing. Its images, from 800 years ago, sp...    less

Sung at a choral course in Nottingham in 1977 Sing we and chant it While love doth grant it Not long youth lasteth And old age hasteth Now is best leisure To take our pleasure All things invite us Now to delight us Hence, care, be packing! No ...  moreSung at a choral course in Nottingham in 1977 Sing we and chant it While love doth grant it Not long youth lasteth And old age hasteth Now is best leisure To take our pleasure All things invite us Now to delight us Hence, care, be packing! No mirth be lacking! Let spare no treasure To live in pleasure  

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]     This post is part of a series of occasional Questions and Answers. Just use the contact form if you want to submit a question.   Morning St...